Abstract: A wedge assembly for supporting automotive doors, particularly pivoted tail gate doors and sliding van doors, which is mounted between surfaces that are not horizontal so that the load applied to the assembly includes a vertical component. The assembly includes a striker member and a wedge member, the former being mounted on the vertical side pillar of an automotive door frame, and the latter being mounted on the side pillar of a pivoted tail gate or sliding door. The assembly provides both vertical and lateral support for the door and door frame and prevents misalignment between the two which can otherwise develop over the life of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control knob (1) includes a companion part (2) as a base of the control knob and a control-knob top part (3) having a grip handle (4). The control-knob top part (3) includes a plate (9) having a flexible elastic material coated thereon to form sidewalls (5.1) of the grip handle (4) which can be flexibly deformed when the grip handle (4) is manipulated. This provides improved manipulation and quiet operation of the control knob (1). Additional push-button and switch functions can be included via a flexible facing wall (5.2) on the grip handle (4).

Abstract: A hold-open device for a door provided with a closing mechanism comprises an operating arm connectable at one end to the closing mechanism, a guide track, a sliding unit movable in the guide track and connected to the opposite end of the operating arm, and a retainer unit mounted in the guide track. The retainer unit includes a body part held in the guide track at a selectively adjustable position therealong, a holder piece turnably journalled at one end region to the body part, a spring urging the holder piece toward a position in which its opposite end region can engage the sliding unit, and an adjustment member effective between the body part and the holder piece for limiting turning movement of the holder piece relative to the body part.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a door closer which is rendered optionally operative to effect either a controlled closing of the door upon opening or to automatically latch or arrest the door in the open position as may be desired. This is attained by a closer housing having a cylinder chamber and a connected latching chamber in which a piston is reciprocally mounted in the cylinder chamber which is biased by a compression spring toward the closed position. The piston rod connected to the piston extends through the end of the latching chamber and a latching member and an associated recoil spring is slidably disposed on the piston rod within the latching chamber. An arming device extends into the latching chamber which is shiftable between an armed position and an unarmed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a motor rolling door from falling includes a wedge shaped sliding plate located at one side of a driven sprocket, which is biased away from the driven sprocket by means of two actuating rods forced by two springs. Two rollers at the outer ends of two actuating rods push against the inner surfaces of the upper and lower stringers of the drive chain to keep the sliding plate away from the driven sprocket. When the drive chain is broken, the two actuating rods extend outward due to the action of the springs, and bias the wedge sliding plate toward the driven sprocket to engage with the driven sprocket, so that the rolling door is prevented from falling by its own weight.

Abstract: A device for generating a rotary return force includes a casing unit, driving and driven gear units disposed in the casing unit, and a torsion spring. The driving gear unit includes a driving axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driving gear wheel mounted fixedly on the driving axle. The driving axle is adapted to be driven rotatably by a rotatable unit. The driven gear unit includes a driven axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driven gear wheel mounted on the driven axle. The driven gear wheel meshes with the driving gear wheel. One of the driven and driving gear wheels is larger than the other one of the driven and driving gear wheels. The torsion spring has a first retaining end secured to the driven gear unit and a second retaining end secured to the casing unit. Rotation of the driving gear wheel in a first direction by the rotatable unit causes corresponding rotation of the driven gear wheel and winding of the torsion spring.

Abstract: A door closer employing a cylinder having an end attachable to a door or door frame and slidably retaining a piston biased by a spring to a maximum retracted position in the cylinder. One end of a rod is attached to the piston and the other end extends from the cylinder and is attachable to a door frame or door. Confined to a short longitudinal space in the cylinder and riding on the rod, is a cantable washer. Structural members at the ends of the washer space in the cylinder maintain the washer in an essentially perpendicular orientation on the rod so that it may slide through the washer freely as the door is opened or closed. A positionable support, longitudinally buttressed from the cylinder, is introducible into the washer space so that the support may contact the washer on initiation of retraction of the rod into the cylinder causing the washer to cant, arrest the piston rod, and hold the door open. To unlatch the door, the positionable support is withdrawn to avoid canting contact with the washer.

Abstract: A door closure mechanism for use upon a door of a cabinet includes a housing formed from two co-mating first and second members, a drive cam rotatably mounted within the housing, a cam follower mounted within the housing for reciprocating movement relative to the drive cam, and a coil spring mounted within the housing for resiliently biasing the cam follower in a reciprocal manner against the drive cam. The drive cam is formed with cam surfaces which radially engage the cam follower so as to control the relative reciprocal movement of the cam follower with respect to the drive cam. As a safety feature, ther is provided a set of spring pre-load clips which engage the ends of the coil spring so as to prevent full decompression of the coil spring in the event of a housing failure.

Abstract: A double-winged door spring is biased for closing with a mechanism for damping of the closure movement and includes a closure sequence control, particularly of a fire-resistant door, in which the damping of the movable door portion is accomplished through a hydraulic damping element with throttled overflow. The hydraulic damping element includes two oppositely controlled pressure chambers defined by a double-acting piston and a valve disposed in the overflow conduit connecting the two pressure chambers, the valve being actuated directly or indirectly through the stationary door portion. By the valve being disposed in the overflow conduit, actuation of the movable door portion can be inhibited until the stationary door portion is closed.

Abstract: An arm for a door closer includes a shaft rotatable about a first axis. The arm includes a first arm member having a first end connected to the shaft and rotatable therewith. A second arm member has a first end pivotably connected to a second end of the first arm member and a second end pivotably connected to a mounting bracket. The second arm member includes an open ended axially movable housing member having radially inwardly extending detent. A clamp has a first end forming the first end of the second arm and a second and forming radially expandable jaws of the clamp. The detent on the housing when disposed in a first axial position maintains the jaws in a closed position and when moved to a second axial position permits the jaws to radially expand. A link has a first end forming the second end of the second arm and a second end. A joining member is connected to the second end of the link and extends towards the clamp.

Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.

Abstract: A door closer is provided of the cylinder/piston type wherein the closer is pivotably mounted to the door at a point adjacent to the piston rod end of the cylinder; a leaf type helper spring may be added between the cylinder and the door; said configuration being capable of providing increased closing force to the door as the door closes.

Abstract: A wedge assembly to be secured to a vehicle door to prevent door rattling during vehicle operation. A slide element is captured by a base plate and stops are provided to prevent inadvertent disassembly.

Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.

Abstract: Automatic door closers have a latch mechanism for holding the door open. In one mode of operation, the latching of the door is effected automatically when the door is opened. Tapping the door closer cylinder upwardly releases the latch mechanism and allows the door to close. Manual manipulation of the latch mechanism is required to latch the door open in a second mode of operation. However, in this mode of operation, the latch mechanism can be released simply by opening the door slightly beyond its latched position. The door closer includes a cylinder with a rectilinearly displaceable piston rod housed therein and extending through one cylinder head; and the latch mechanism comprises that cylinder head and a notch in the piston rod into which cylinder head is fitted to keep the piston rod from telescoping into the cylinder. The opposite end of the cylinder and the exposed end of the piston rod are attached to the door and the door frame.

Abstract: A mechanical disk-type door closure wherein one end of the closure is connected to a door and the other end is pivotally connected to a door jam such that when the door pivots about its hinge. The closure includes a rod upon which a rack is formed to cause a pinion to rotate in one direction and which is in mesh with a gear so as to move the pinion out of contact with the rack. When the door closes, a spring moves the pinion into engagement with the rack and the pinion turns in a direction to rotate the gear which is subjected braking pressure so as to adjust the resistance to the closing motion of the door.

Abstract: A damper device comprises damping structure and a spring device and is advantageously used for a door swingably supported by a shaft to be opened and shut between a totally shut position and a totally opened position and opened under the influence of its own weight at least from a position intermediate of the aforementioned two positions to the totally opened state. The damper element acts against the motion of the door. The spring element biases the door in the shutting direction at least from the intermediate position to the totally opened position.

Abstract: A device which allows a choice of stopping positions for a swinging door mainly comprises a body having a cylindrical well together with a passage hole vertically formed through the body, an operation means includes a plunger normally supported by a spring, a friction body received under the plunger. Said plunger can be plunged repetitively between a suspension position where the friction body is suspended properly above the ground and a stop position where the friction body is pushed in association with the plunger to touch the ground to stop the door at a selected position through friction effected between the friction body and the ground.

Abstract: A door-closer has an air cylinder in which a piston rod and a piston body are provided to define first and second sealed chambers. The piston body is sleeved movably on the piston rod and has a tapered bore which is communicated with the second chamber. A closable passage is formed through the piston and communicated with the first and second chambers. A spring-biased seal is disposed in the second chamber and biased to close the closable passage. A regulatable passage is formed through the piston body and communicated with the tapered bore and the first chamber. The piston rod has a shoulder which is movable axially within the tapered bore by rotating the cylinder relative to the piston rod for regulating the air flow between the first and second chambers through the regulatable passage. The spring-biased seal is movable to open the closable passage when the piston body moves in response to the opening of the door.

Abstract: A storm door lock apparatus is set forth wherein a clamp is secured to an associated screen-door type closure member that further secures a slidable rod mounted with an abutment surface for actuation by a user with a pivoted lever at the other end of said rod for canting about a piston rod associated with a door closure. Additionally, a generally "L" shaped link is securable to the abutment member for allowing engagement and access by a user.

Abstract: A door holder-closer comprising a conventional door closer and a novel electromechanical door holder attached to the drive spindle of the door closer. The door holder features a lever which is coupled to the drive spindle of the door closer by an adjustable clamp comprising mating rotor and cone elements. Both the rotor and the cone are seated over the drive spindle with the cone being fixed to the spindle. The rotor is formed with a projecting rotor tab which is selectively engaged by a pawl. The lever is formed with a notch which selectively engages a roller driven by an electromagnet-actuated armature. The motion of the door closer spindle is restrained by a primary latch formed when the roller is seated within the lever notch in response to an energized electromagnet, and by a secondary latch formed when the pawl engages the rotor tab. The primary latch supports and controls the secondary latch. Hold-open door control occurs when both latches are in effect concurrently.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a door of a motor vehicle is described that is actuated via an inside and outside handle and comprises a piston-cylinder unit arranged between a door post and the vehicle door. It has a piston provided with passage openings for a pressure medium, the piston interacting with an interior valve that separates two working chambers of the cylinder from one another. The control mechanism is equipped with a blocking valve controlling the medium flow, this blocking valve being arranged in a control circuit connecting the two working chambers of the cylinder, acting against the flow direction. This blocking valve, via a control element at a door handle, can be controlled in such a way that the door is blocked in at least one intermediate position. The cylinder has at least one overflow duct between the two working chambers, the flow-through of which is controlled by the piston of the unit. The duct extends over an area into which the piston dips, up to a door opening angle of about 30.degree.

Abstract: A door security device which is mounted in the floor or other flat surface in the arc of passage of a door which can be operated solely by one's foot. The door security device includes a housing with a flange plate which is mounted in the opening of the floor surface. A stop member is provided within the housing which assumes two alternate positions, a lowered position and a raised position. In the lowered position, the door is free to move through its arc of passage without obstruction by the door security device. By pressing down on the principal surface of the stop member, a latching mechanism is actuated which allows the stop member to be spring biased into the open position. In the open position the stop member obstructs the motion of the door through its arc of passage so that the door can be opened only a limited distance.

Abstract: A torque modification device for use with a pocket door which is adaptable to modify the torque applied by a door closer to the door to increase the torque when the door approaches its fully latched condition.

Abstract: A door check wherein a housing is affixed to the pivotable panel and a guide rail is affixed to the frame of a door. The housing contains a shaft which is rigidly connected with one end of an arm the other end of which is slidably guided by the rail. The shaft carries a disc cam having two asymmetric sections one of which is tracked by a spring-biased follower surrounding an antifriction bearing and tending to return the panel to its closed position and the other of which is tracked by a roller on the piston of a damper which yieldably opposes the movement of the panel back to its closed position. The configuration of the two cam sections is selected with a view to allow for a reduction of the resistance which the follower offers to opening of the door shortly after the panel leaves its closed position as well as to ensure that the damper can operate independently of the follower and vice versa.

Abstract: A door closer assembly for connection between door and frame members relatively movable between open and closed positions includes a housing having a power screw rotatably mounted therewithin. A follower is mounted on the screw and moves axially along the screw when the screw is rotated. A spring is disposed in the chamber and is compressed by the follower. A handle member is mounted for rotation about a first end of the housing and is connected to the screw for rotation therewith. An indicating member is mounted on the housing for axial movement relative thereto. The indicating member is in engagement with the handle whereby rotation of the handle results in simultaneous axial movement of the follower and the indicator member. The indicator member includes visually observable means for indicating the relative degree of compression of the spring.

Abstract: A door closer is described in which transmission ratios which change in dependence on the closing angle can be realized by eccentric toothed elements. The toothed elements can have different profile offsets, moduli and flank angles along their respective pitch curves.

Abstract: The device includes a coiled extension spring, one end containing a hook for pivotal attachment either to the door or door frame, the other end being open to receive an elongated, tubular guide, one end of which threads into the open end of the spring. The other end of the guide is closed and contains a coaxial aperture through which slides an elongated rod having one end adapted for pivotal attachment to the other of the door or door frame and a piston attached to its second end which is slidably-retained within the guide to position the rod during relative coaxial sliding of the rod and guide, and to stop the rod against further protractive movement when the piston abuts the closed end of the guide. Camming surfaces located radially on the piston cooperate with opposing follower means in the guide, of which two embodiments are disclosed, to clamp the piston in the most extensive position of the rod, which clamping action can be overcome by a retractive force of the rod of a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A door closer is described in which transmission characteristics which change in dependence on the closing angle can be realized either by two pistons disposed coaxially within one another and displaceable relative to one another, or by eccentric toothed elements.

Abstract: A spring assembly for counterbalancing a door includes a compression spring and tension members engaging opposite ends of the spring. The tension members can be connected in a conventional horizontally pivoted door mechanism or a track-guided door mechanism, the assembly replacing ordinary tension springs of the pivoted mechanism. The tension members and the spring are maintained in axial alignment during compression of the spring, which can be preloaded as desired. Provision is made for an initial preload corresponding to a lowered position of the door, facilitating installation and adjustment of the spring assembly. The assembly is fail-safe in that the spring is completely enclosed and the spring, if broken, continues to provide support for the door. In the track-guided mechanism, the spring assembly is connected between an anchor and a driveshaft pulley by a cable that is wound onto the pulley.

Abstract: A coil spring has elliptical openings in the end turns for non-rotatably receiving elliptically shaped studs which are press-fitted into the spring, the ends being respectively attached to a pair of mounting brackets.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a door of a motor vehicle is suggested that is coupled at a door post on the side of the body so that it can be swung, is actuated via an inside and outside handle and comprises a piston-cylinder unit arranged between the door post and the vehicle door. The unit has a piston provided with passage openings for a pressure medium, the piston interacting with an interior valve that separates two working chamber of the cylinders from one another. The mechanism has an exterior blocking valve controlling the medium flow, this blocking valve being arranged in a control circuit connecting the two working chambers of the cylinder, acting against the flow direction. The blocking valve is controlled by a door handle in such a way that the door can be blocked in at least one intermediate position.

Abstract: A door closer the closing force of which can be adjusted is provided with a device for indicating the selected closing force. The device used to indicate the prevailing closing force is actuated in dependence on the adjustment of the spring which determines the closing force.

Abstract: A door closer has a first arm (4, 14) which is pivotally attached to the door case (2), a second arm (5, 15) which is pivotally attached to the door leaf (1), the opposite ends of the two arms being pivotally connected to each other (at C), and a spring biased driving device (6, 16) which is pivotally attached partly to the door case (at E), partly to the linkage system formed by the arm (4, 5; 14, 15). According to the invention the driving device (6, 16) is pivotally attached to the second arm (5, 15) at a distance from its joint (6) on the first arm (4, 14), and its joint (E) on the door case is located between the joints (A and B respectively) of the first and second arms (4, 5; 14, 15) on the door case and the door leaf respectively, the joint (B) of the second arm (5, 15) being located closest to the hinge joint (D) of the door.

Abstract: An automatic door closer whose housing confines a reciprocable damper piston cooperating with a rotary shaft to rotate the shaft in a direction to close the door or to be moved by the shaft in response to opening of the door. The piston can be biased in a direction to close the door through the medium of the shaft by a strong coil spring as well as by a relatively weak second spring in the form of a torsion spring, an extension spring or a compression spring. The second spring ensures that the party opening the door invariably encounters some resistance to movement of the door from closed position as well as that the door begins to move toward the closed position as soon as the door opening force is reduced below the force of the second spring.

Abstract: In an apparatus for closing a fireproof door, a holding device comprises a latch mechanism and a slider. The latch mechanism comprises an actuator member swingably supported in a housing which is provided with a tubular portion wherein a stopper is inserted and downwardly biased by a spring, the biasing force of the spring being adjustable by a screw which is threaded into the tubular portion. The slider is provided with an inclined surface at the front end thereof and a through-hole to receive the stopper therein. The slider is slid into the spacing formed between the actuator member and the housing with upwardly guiding the stopper by the inclined surface of the slider and the slider is locked by the stopper when it falls into the through-hole of the slider. The slider is released from the latch mechanism by swinging the actuator member or upwardly pushing the stopper against the biasing force of the spring.

Abstract: A door check consisting of a base plate having a check plate pivotally attached thereto so as to be pivotable upwardly therefrom to abut and check a swinging door, the base plate and the check plate being substantially the same shape and size, the base plate being adapted to be immovably affixed to flooring within proximity of the door, the assemblage permitting of flush mounting within a recess formed in the floor.

Abstract: A rotation-braking damper comprises a housing formed of a cap and a case, a shaft provided at the external end thereof with a toothed wheel and inserted on the internal end thereof into the housing, a disk fastened to the internal end of the inserted shaft, and a lock washer disposed inside the housing as held in contact with the disk. By the lock washer, the shaft in rotation is braked against the cap. The damper of this invention produces a desired braking effect on an opening-closing object such as a lid. The damper can be constructed with a small number of component parts.

Abstract: A releasable hold-open device for a spring-impelled, regulated door closer has a door motion follower adapted to be releasably held in a door-open position. An actuator is arranged to retain or release the follower under control of a permanent magnet that can be overcome by an electromagnet.

Abstract: The piston assembly of a hydraulically controlled door closer has a tubular wall, plugs secured in end portions of the wall and a separate rack secured inside the tubular wall between the plugs by formations on the plugs.

Abstract: An axially extending closer shaft for a door closer is made up of an axially extending first section mounted in a door closer housing and an axially extending second section aligned with and connected to the first section and located outside of the housing. A plurality of annular grooves are formed in the second section extending perpendicularly of the shaft axis and spaced apart in the direction of the shaft axis. The second section can be cut to the desired length in the plane of one of the grooves. The first and second sections can be connected together by a plurality of bolts extending in the axial direction of the shaft or by a single shaft and coupling balls positioned within recesses in the first shaft and in bores in the second shaft.

Abstract: A self-closing door hinge for a curtain door mounted within a frame consisting of a channel having a double helical track and a roller on said helical track which is returned to a pre-selected position after movement in either direction by compression of a spring thereby moving an arm carrying a curtain door connected to said channel to a preselected position.

Abstract: A pinion 9 attached to a door meshes with two parallel racks 10, 11 which face each other. A piston 14, connected by rods 29 to a rotatable lever 25 of a restoration assembly 4 which has a return spring 26 and a shock absorber 27, has an L-shaped pivotable hook 21 behind which a pin 12 of one of the two racks catches at the beginning of the opening. At the end of the closing, immobile stop 17 raises hook 21 to free pin 12. The same process occurs with the other rack to open the door in the other direction. The parts assemble in such a way that the door closure is not very thick and can be mounted directly inside a section of the door.

Abstract: The closing mechanism of an automatic door closing arrangement is partly enveloped by an elongated unitary casing of sheet metal. Flanges on two of the longitudinal casing walls bound therebetween an opening in the casing which may be closed by a panel releasably retained by the flanges. Provisions are made for attaching the casing to a door and for linking the output element of the closing mechanism to a door frame. The panel may be removed simply and without tools for access to the mechanism or for replacement by another panel of different decorative appearance.

Abstract: A door closer includes a horizontally disposed inner cylinder receiving oil therein, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder and receiving gas and oil in an annular spaced defined around the inner cylinder, a piston slidably fitted in the inner cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending out of the cylinders for connection to a door, a passage disposed at one end of the inner cylinder for communicating the interior of the inner cylinder with the annular space, a valve member movably mounted on the piston rod and normally at a position spaced from the piston for cooperating with the passage so as to reduce the effective passage area of the passage in the end portion of outward movement of the piston rod relative to the cylinders.

Abstract: A mechanism for use in counterbalancing the weight of a lid or closure incident to movements thereof between closed and open portions is in the form of a spring pressurized, hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement. The mechanism preferably includes means providing hydraulic damping characteristics for both the fully extended and contracted conditions of the mechanism.

Abstract: A door closer has an inner cylinder receiving a piston slidably therein, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder to define a space therebetween, which space communicates with the interior of the inner cylinder at the opposite ends thereof, a piston rod extending from the piston out of one end of the inner cylinder and for connection to a door to urge it to the closed position, a valve mechanism disposed in the other end of the inner cylinder to control oil flow between the interior of the inner cylinder and the space. The door closer is mounted horizontally and a portion of the space is filled with high pressure gas.

Abstract: This invention relates to a door closer and holder having a longitudinally movable rod containing a niche which rests against a stop plate to hold the door in an open position. A rotating cam is positioned adjacent the niche in the rod so that further movement of the rod in a longitudinal matter rotates the cam causing the rod to ride over and bypass the stop plate allowing the door to close.

Abstract: A door closer has an air cylinder which, when pressurized, neutralizes the door closing force applied by the closer so that the door will open with relative ease. The air cylinder is pressurized through a valve which is contained within the door and is operated by a handle on the door.